Getting Us Stirred Up
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 2Peter 3:1-2
PETER'S SECOND LETTER TO THE SCATTERED JEWISH CHRISTIANS urges them to remember. Remember the words of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Apostles of Jesus. These words have the power to stir up the spirit of discouraged men and women, young people and boys and girls. Both letters were for the same purpose. No doubt, Peter was remembering the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out in such great power and he was the main speaker on that day.
ON PENTECOST IT LOOKED LIKE A SPIRITUAL TSUNAMI when all opposition was swept away. But now, they were scattered and having to run away. Instead of a big crowd, they were huddled here and there and most of the time just their individual families. Sometimes they were hungry and away from familiar surroundings. Their memories of home and the exciting visits to the special feasts in Jerusalem brought strong memories. They missed these things. Oh, to be at home!
THE SCATTERED CHRISTIANS WERE SUFFERING PERSECUTION from their own religious leaders in Jerusalem and by their own countrymen who were scattered everywhere as merchants. It would be easy for them to become discouraged. What is the best defense against persecution and discouragement? To remember the words of the Old Testament prophets and the words of the Apostles. He announces to them in his letter that he recognizes the honorable state of their minds. Their minds are pure, sincere minds.
THE WRITER OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS URGED CHRISTIANS to attend weekly meetings with other Christians to encourage themselves. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
THE "ONE ANOTHER" PART OF CHRISTIANITY is a very important part of it. When we assemble on the Lord’s day, the first reason is to worship God. But a second reason we assemble together is to encourage one another.
“PETER'S PURPOSE IN WRITING WAS TO STIMULATE THEM TO WHOLESOME THINKING. The phrase eilikrinē dianoian (“wholesome thinking”) may also be rendered “sincere mind” or “pure disposition.” (Eilikrinēs occurs elsewhere in the NT only in Philippians 1:10, where it is translated: “pure.”)
The English “sincere” is from the Latin words sine cera, “without wax.” Some pottery salesmen would use wax to cover cracks and weak places in pottery. Such a cover-up could be detected only by holding the jug up to the sun to see if any weaknesses were visible. Such a vase was “sun-judged” (the lit. meaning of the Gr. eilikrinēs). God wants His people to have sun-judged minds, not those in which their sin spots have been covered over.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary)
SO, PETER IS ENCOURAGING THESE CHRISTIANS TO IDENTIFY WITH A “sine cera” mind; a mind without wax to cover over its flaws. Do you think we need to identify with these early Christians and discipline our minds to measure up to sincere, pure thinking? I think so. I’m afraid to trust my own thinking to the weakest part of my old nature. It’s not safe for me to do that.
I WISH I COULD TELL YOU THAT SINCE I GOT SAVED IN THE BEAN MARKET when I was nine years old, I have built a concrete fortress of thinking that is now completely safe. But, that is not the case. I need to remember the words of the Old Testament prophets and the words of the Apostles who saw Jesus preach, die, and rise again from the dead. I must not forget that. I need a steady diet of the Word of God, both the Old and New Testaments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)
ALSO, I MUST BE LOOKING DAILY FOR HIS RETURN. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1John 3:2-3)
THE WORD: MINDFUL, MEANS JUST THAT: A MIND FULL. A mind full of the Word of God helps us not to sin against God. The Founding Fathers of America knew about this. That’s why our Constitution is written in the shadow and substance of the Word of God. That’s why, in the early days before there were schools, the mother’s taught the children to read so they could read the Bible. The first schools in America were in the little church houses; the first teachers were the pastors; the first text book was the Bible. They knew! They knew the importance of The Book! The second book was Pilgrim’s Progress.
WE NEED TO KEEP OUR MINDS STIRRED UP TODAY, by reading and remembering the words of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Apostles and the Gospels. We need to remember that Jesus is coming any day now to call away His own and then to sit upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem to rule the world in peace and prosperity.
IT'S HARD TO FEEL SPIRITUAL WHEN YOU'RE SICK, OR OLD OR WHEN YOU'VE LOST your job. But, we MUST take care of our minds, to keep them refreshed and stirred with passion for the things of God. We must not forget. We must not grow cold and hard. Let us stir up our minds by way of remembrance! Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
JUNE 7, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. 2 Chronicles 23-25 P.M. John 16:16-33
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Good Memory Verse:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (2Timothy 2:24) (Write verses on scraps of paper and put in your pocket like President Abraham Lincoln did.)
Song for Today:
Guide Me O Great Redeemer (2:57) –(Albert Royal Hall)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofp6rdAgRrY&list=PL6M8stFRZ2JTLskAbIz381tnIozxSi2IR&index=8
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